APC: ACN clears air on APGA’s membership
Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) has clarified the situation under which All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA) was included in the membership of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
It said APGA’s inclusion was an act of good faith, based on available
information and prevailing circumstances, rather than a deliberate act
to mislead Nigerians or railroad APGA into the merger.
Reacting to APGA’s published disclaimer of APC, ACN’s National
Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said in a statement issued in Abuja
on Sunday that the new party has absolute respect for the rights of
individuals or groups on whether or not to associate within a democracy.
Explaining how APGA was included in the list of parties that
consummated the merger, it said, ‘’We recognise the person and status of
Gov. Rochas Okorocha, who as Imo governor has been a great player and
figure in Nigerian political landscape, as well as Senator Annie
Okonkwo, a seasoned politician and respectable lawmaker.
‘’We believe in their representation that APGA is interested in the merger, hence we worked with them in good faith.
“They participated effectively and positively in the meetings of all
governors of the parties concerned and in the meetings of the merger
committees of the parties, leading to the communique released by all the
governors endorsing the merger and the one by the merger committees
announcing the formation of the APC.’’
However, ACN said going by the statement signed on behalf of some
APGA members by Tim Menakaya, APC had come to the full realisation that
there is dissent in the rank and file of the party (APGA).
‘’In spite of this, and since democracy is about choice, alignments
and re-alignments hinged on the fundamentals of individual freedom of
association, we respect their position, and will like to describe as
unfortunate whatever misconception the purported full involvement of
APGA in the merger may have generated.
‘’We also assure APGA that we are willing to work with the party
whenever it normalises its internal process and is ready to join the
platform.
“We all remain brethren within the Nigerian family and our doors remain open, in the spirit of the new party,’’ it said.
ACN explained, however, that it is not only parties that can join
APC, saying that progressive individuals and groups are welcomed to the
fold of the new party.
‘’On this basis, therefore, individuals such as the Imo State
governor and others of like minds are still considered members of the
APC,’’ the party said, while reiterating its resolve and commitment to
the merger of the ACN, CPC and ANPP in a final push to rescue Nigeria.
‘’We proudly inform Nigerians that APC is large enough to accommodate
all those who are tired of the sorry state of our nation today and are
ready to join in the quest for a positive change that will benefit all
Nigerians.
‘’We do not intend to shut our doors to anyone who wants to be part
of the APC, a platform for all progressives, irrespective of party
affiliation, to help steer our nation’s ship of state, which is
currently being battered by turbulent waves, to safety since the captain
and the rest of the crew have either escaped below the deck or are busy
fighting themselves, having lost all initiatives to save the ship,’’
the party said.
